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What to Watch at the World Athletics Championships 2017

Over the next 10 days, London will be rekindling the spark of the 2012 Olympic Games and hosting the World Athletics Championships. Not normally an athletics fan? Well, this is the perfect event to get started, with historic moments expected around every corner.

If you want a VIP seat to all the action – and to avoid the wind and the rain! – we recommend tuning in to the BBC’s comprehensive coverage from 4 – 13 August. This includes a highlights programme on BBC Two at the end of every day. Expert analysis is provided by the London 2012 gold medallist and three-time world heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill and Olympic legend Michael Johnson.

Day one: Friday 4 August

The championships will open with heats in the men’s 100m, where it’s expected that Usain Bolt will stroll through to the finals. For those seeking something a bit different, check out the qualifying event for the ancient sport of discus (19:20). Watch out for German Robert Harting’s Incredible Hulk style celebration!

Sir Mo Farrah, 10,000m

One of Britain’s greatest athletes, Sir Mo Farrah, is competing in his last ever track event. The five-time world champion will take part in the 5,000m and 10,000m (tonight). A firm favourite, Sir Mo will be expecting to add another couple of gold medals to his trophy cabinet and to send his fans home happy.

Final

21:20 – Men’s 10,000m final

Day two: Saturday 5 August

The first event of the women’s heptathlon, the 100m, will take place in the morning session (10:05). Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson will be aiming to win her first world medal, and to emulate the success of the retired Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Usain Bolt, 100m

Usain Bolt is also drawing a close to his remarkable career and competing in his last ever event. The man who IAAF President Lord Coe described as a ‘genius’ is in a confident mood as usual. However, will fellow countryman Yohan Blake – the second fastest man of the year – step up and spoil Usain’s retirement party?

Finals

19:25 – Men’s discus final

20:05 – Men’s long jump final

20:10 – Women’s 10,000m final

21:45 – Men’s 100m final

Day three: Sunday 6 August

There’s no chance of a lazy Sunday for several of Great Britain’s athletes, including European indoor hurdling champion Andrew Pozzi and Olympic bronze medallist Asha Philip, who’ll be hoping to make the final of the women’s 100m.

Holly Bradshaw, pole vault

A British record holder and bronze medallist at the 2012 World Indoor Championships, Holly Bradshaw has had to overcome four surgeries in the past four years. However, this event could be her time to shine and make up for the disappointment of a 6th place finish in the 2012 London Olympics.

Finals

10:55 – Men’s marathon

14:00 – Women’s marathon

19:00 – Women’s pole vault final

20:35 – Men’s shot put final

20:40 – Heptathlon 800m (final event)

21:50 – Women’s 100m final

Day four: Monday 7 August

Defending champion Sergey Shubenkov will have a tough time holding onto his 110m hurdles title, with Jamaican Omar McLeod looking to not only win the title but also set a new world record.

Laura Muir, 1500m

A double gold medal winner at the 2017 European Indoor Championships, Laura Muir, is one of Britain’s main medal contenders. She’ll hope to be in the Women’s 1,500m final, and will also compete in the 5,000m.

Finals

19:00 – Women’s hammer throw final

20:25 – Women’s triple jump final

21:30 – Men’s 110m hurdles final

21:50 – Women’s 1,500m final

Day five: Tuesday 8 August

Britain’s hopes rest with Matt Hudson-Smith, Dwayne Cowan and Martyn Rooney, who’ll all be hoping they can at least make the 400m final.

Wayde van Niekerk, 400m

The South African sprinter will be looking to do the double and win both the 200m and his 400m title. He came to prominence at the Rio Olympics by breaking Michael Johnson’s world record, which hadn’t been beaten in 17 years.

Finals

19:20 – Women’s javelin final

19:35 – Men’s pole vault final

21:10 – Men’s 3,000m steeplechase final

21:35 – Men’s 800m final

21:50 – Men’s 400m final

Day six: Wednesday 9 August

The Olympic Stadium is likely to be packed as Sir Mo starts his journey to the 5,000m final (20:05).

Kerron Clement, 400m hurdles

US hurdler Kerron Clement will be hoping he can recapture the form which led to him beating Michael Johnson’s world indoor 400m record 12 years ago. However, Kyron McMaster – a part time truck driver from the Virgin Islands – has clocked up a surprise world leading time and is also in with a chance of winning.

Finals

20:25 – Women’s shot put final

21:30 – Men’s 400m hurdles final

21:50 – Women’s 400m final

Day seven: Thursday 10 August

Laura Muir will be starting her 5,000m campaign at the beginning of the day’s evening session (18:30). And Wayde van Niekerk will be hoping he can replace Usain Bolt as the new 200m champion.

Dalilah Muhammad, 400m hurdles

Women’s 400m hurdles is an event dominated by the US. But the leader of the pack is 2016 Olympic gold medallist Dalilah Muhammad. She’ll need to be at her best though – maybe even pushing to another level – as her Olympic time would only have guaranteed her fifth in the US championships in June.

Finals

20:20 – Men’s triple jump final

21:35 – Women’s 400m hurdles final

21:50 – Men’s 200m final

Day eight: Friday 11 August

British record holder, Lorraine Ugen, will be hoping she can pick up a medal in the Women’s long jump final.

Daphne Shippers, 200m

The Dutch sprinter – who also competes in the heptathlon – will be determined to defend the 200m title she won in Beijing. She holds the European record and is the third fastest woman in the world. Her successes on the track have led to her home town of Utrecht naming a bridge after her – The Dafne Schippersbrug. If she wins again, who knows what else they’ll name after her!

Finals

19:10 – Women’s long jump final

20:30 – Men’s hammer final

21:25 – Women’s 3,000m steeplechase final

21:50 – Women’s 200m final

Day nine: Saturday 12 August

A fantastic end to the evening session will see both women’s and men’s 4x100m relay finals. This will be your last chance to see Usain Bolt as he competes for Jamaica. Great Britain, including London-born Adam Gemili, will be hoping they can stop him in his tracks. Although Team GB will need to get passed the morning qualifiers first (10:55).

Sir Mo Farrah, 5,000m

In what could be an emotional farewell, Sir Mo will likely compete in his last ever track final. His achievements will have encouraged a generation to take up athletics – as well as try Quorn!

Finals

19:05 – Women’s high jump final

20:05 – Women’s 100m hurdles final

20:15 – Men’s javelin throw final

20:20 – Men’s 5,000m final

20:45 – Decathlon 1,500m (final event)

21:30 – Women’s 4x100m relay final

21:50 – Men’s 4x100m relay final

Day 10: Sunday 13 August

It’s medals galore as we reach the final day of the championships. However, before the finals begin, why not turn your attention to the race walks. Follow British record holder Tom Bosworth as he tries to make the podium.

Caster Semenya, 800m

An athlete whose career has been surrounded by a media focus on athletes’ testosterone levels, Caster will be looking to focus her attention to the track and win the 800m – an event which saw her win gold in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The Olympic champion hasn’t lost an 800m event since 2015, so the odds are definitely in her favour.